Quote Originally Posted by Bhruic
You know, there's a lot of talk about various MP games out there... The various *craft games, FPSs, etc. But can anyone point to a single TBS game that has a large, vibrant MP community?

I enjoy playing games with other people. But, in general, I can't stand playing games over the internet. It just isn't worth the effort. You get everything from teamstacking in FPS, to droppers in RTS, to cheaters in general... I mean, can you imagine? Putting in 2 hours to play a MP campaign of RTW only to have the other person say "I had a crappy start, I'm out", and leave? And why wouldn't they? How many people would sit around and continue to play with 1 city left and no money?

The fact is, campaign mode is not a good MP system for anyone other than friends. I'd be happy to play a LAN game with some buddies, who I could rely on to play fairly and well. But random people on the internet? That can work for FPS, because there are lots of people playing. That can work for RTS, because you don't spend that long on a single map. That can even work in RPGs, because you can have a "join at any time" system. But it wouldn't work for TBS.

I do think that CA could have focused a little more effort on the MP within RTW, as it is nothing but glorified RTS. But I would have been just as happy (well, happier, really) had they scrapped the MP components and focused that 10-20% programmer effort into fixing the SP component of the game.

Bh
Same. I don't like Internet MP. I play every now and then but it isn't a pleasant experience most of the time. People in general are just as stupid as the AI, cheat more than the AI and do it with tons of foul language and an annoying attitude.

There's a reason Diablo2's Internet mp, according to a Blizzard employee, is only around 10% of its customers. Most people would rather play sp and LAN mp.